Overview
In the European Union, a diverse and dynamic environment, non-EU citizens comprise a significant portion of the population, with 23.8 million non-EU citizens (5.3% of the EU's total population) and 38.0 million people born outside the EU (8.5% of all EU inhabitants). Despite their numbers, these first-generation immigrants face substantial challenges in integrating into the labor market, highlighted by the employment rates—77.1% for EU citizens versus 61.9% for non-EU citizens in 2022.
The urgency of this mission has been amplified by recent events, including the influx of refugees from Ukraine since February 2022, significantly increasing the EU's share of the world's refugees from less than 10% to more than 20%. This demographic shift underscores the need for targeted support to facilitate the integration of newcomers into the EU labor market.
The "Career Path Project" aims to bridge this gap, offering an innovative solution to empower first-generation immigrants in Europe. By providing personalized career advice, skill development courses, and networking opportunities, the project targets the critical challenges of language barriers, cultural differences, and the need to establish professional networks in a new country.
Goal
Our goal is to transform the European dream into a reality for first-generation immigrants, equipping them with the necessary tools and resources to thrive in their adopted countries. The "Career Path Project" is more than just an application; it's a commitment to fostering empowerment, inclusion, and success for Europe's newest members.
Project duration
12 weeks including research and design
Team member + Roles
Terry (me) - UX design | visual design | research | project management
Tools
Figma | Miro | Stable Diffusion
Research
Secondary + Qualitative
Our initial exploration into the challenges faced by first-generation immigrants in Europe was grounded in comprehensive secondary research, primarily utilizing data from Eurostat. This research highlighted significant disparities in employment rates between EU citizens and non-EU citizens, with 77.1% of EU citizens employed compared to just 61.9% of non-EU citizens. Furthermore, the recent geopolitical events, notably the influx of refugees from Ukraine, have added complexity to the existing challenges of integration into the EU labor market. This foundational research set the stage for a deeper investigation into the specific barriers that hinder the successful career transition of first-generation immigrants.
To gain a nuanced understanding of the lived experiences of first-generation immigrants, we conducted qualitative research through interviews with 11 individuals from this demographic. The participants were selected to represent a diverse cross-section in terms of origin, age, professional background, and length of stay in the EU. The interviews were designed to uncover the personal challenges, aspirations, and experiences of immigrants as they navigate the European labor market.
Research insights
Competitive analysis
Persona + Journey map
Initial sitemap
The card sorting method is going to be used as the content gets more sophisticated.
From paper to digital
Wireframes and lo-fi prototypes were rapidly designed to be tested on users.
paper wireframe 1
paper wireframe 2
ideation
lo-fi
Mock-up + Hi-fi prototype
Figma's latest variable feature is implemented to create a consistent UI for all pages in the app.
-- to be updated --
Prototype evaluation
The usability evaluation of the "Career Path Project" high-fidelity (hi-fi) prototype was designed to assess the effectiveness, ease of use, and overall user experience of the app, specifically tailored for first-generation immigrants integrating into new countries. Utilizing the "thinking aloud" method and the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire, we gathered qualitative and quantitative insights from test users. This comprehensive approach allowed us to understand the app's usability and its impact on the target user group.
Methodology
- Participants: A diverse group of first-generation immigrants, representing a wide range of ages, professions, and countries of origin, participated in the evaluation to ensure the feedback encompassed a variety of user needs and experiences.
- Thinking Aloud Method: Participants were asked to vocalize their thoughts, feelings, and questions while interacting with the hi-fi prototype. This method provided real-time insights into their thought processes, usability challenges, and immediate reactions to the app's features.
- System Usability Scale (SUS) Questionnaire: Following the thinking-aloud sessions, participants completed the SUS questionnaire, a reliable tool for assessing the usability of a system. The SUS provides a global view of subjective assessments of usability, measured on a scale of 0 to 100.
- Thinking Aloud Method: Participants were asked to vocalize their thoughts, feelings, and questions while interacting with the hi-fi prototype. This method provided real-time insights into their thought processes, usability challenges, and immediate reactions to the app's features.
- System Usability Scale (SUS) Questionnaire: Following the thinking-aloud sessions, participants completed the SUS questionnaire, a reliable tool for assessing the usability of a system. The SUS provides a global view of subjective assessments of usability, measured on a scale of 0 to 100.
Usability Insights
- The app's navigation was generally praised for its intuitiveness and ease of use. Users were able to find and utilize the various features without confusion.
- Some users suggested improvements for language support and the incorporation of more localized information to further enhance the app's utility.
- The SUS questionnaire results underscored the app's positive reception, with scores indicating high usability and satisfaction among the participants. Specific scores are to be analyzed and reported in detail, aiming for an average score above the industry standard of 68, which is considered the benchmark for good usability.
Recommendations for Improvement
- Enhanced Language Support: Incorporate more comprehensive language options and support features to cater to a broader range of immigrants.
- Localization of Content: Increase the localization of career guidance and resources to ensure relevance to users' specific contexts and needs.
- Community Features: Expand on the networking and community-building features to foster a more engaging and supportive user environment.
- Localization of Content: Increase the localization of career guidance and resources to ensure relevance to users' specific contexts and needs.
- Community Features: Expand on the networking and community-building features to foster a more engaging and supportive user environment.
Key takeaways
The development and evaluation of the "Career Path Project" have been a journey of discovery, adaptation, and growth. This section reflects on the key learnings from the entire process, from initial research to the usability evaluation of the hi-fi prototype. These insights not only informed the design and implementation of the project but also provided valuable lessons on addressing the unique needs of first-generation immigrants in Europe.
What's next
Building on the foundation laid by the initial launch and positive feedback from our user base, the next steps for the "Career Path Project" are geared towards expanding its impact, refining its features, and addressing the evolving needs of first-generation immigrants in Europe. Here’s an outline of our strategic focus areas for the future:
